Monday, November 30, 2009

some new things in the shop! + poetry ;0








NO, DONT GIVE NO CLOTH

for i will
rend it
mend it
sew it
alter it
re-do it
re-make it
construct
de-construct
embellish
patch it
applique it
quilt it
paint on it
hang it
'don't know if this is
a hobby, interest, enthusiasm,
like, love, habit, escapism,
or gross pathologique...
an art, i think.




Sunday, November 29, 2009

'tis done.



this is the final artwork.
"the pathway to inspiration"
12x13 inches
acrylic and graphite on primed
brown eco-paper.

the act of creating "art" requires selflessness. you give your all to it.
it isnt just skill, you part your mind and heart,even soul.
that makes an art i think, aesthetically valuable, priceless.finally, it is difficult to repeat this again. astounding motivation maybe...

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

working on this


i am currently working on this piece for an etsian gal. i have this habit of trying out to bid on the alchemy section whenever i see a chance. it is great to work with people who like and appreciate art for whatever purpose and reason they have in mind. i have done so many things for myself, i like to make and create things every now and then, for the pleasure and enjoyment of others---exactly what "art" is all about, or on the controversial issue, part of it.

the image--is just a rough, thumbnail work so as she will have an idea, how i will go about it. she likes better the word--"inspiration" instead. i will post the final piece when its done.

(medium: acrylic on one-ply eco-paper)




Thursday, November 19, 2009

why we blog

"blogs are no fad. they are cheap and easy to do. and blogs fulfill that deepest of human needs as defined by psychologist Abraham Maslow: self-actualization. people write blogs because they want to know themselves and want to become known by others and because they want their lives to count. when a communication medium is.... tapping into a deep need, it's no fad."
_rich karlgaard, publisher of Forbes magazine, on his blog, Dec. 25, 2005


"blogging is a symptom of something much bigger that's happening."
_dave sifry, ceo technorati


"my blog is place for me to occasionally climb up a podium and pound on my bible and work out ideas by writing"
_henry copeland, founder and ceo, blogads.com


"BLOG: i like that it's roughly onomatopoeic(if you wonder what the heck is that word, here) of vomitting. these sites (mine included!) tend to be kind of information upbucking"


_peter merholz, who coined the term "blog" in 1995 as a contraction of "web" and "log"







those are quoted directly from DebbieWeil's  "The Corporate Blogging"

it is all about blogging as a contemporary networking, marketing,advertising, and how the companies and corporations can maximize the use of their employees' blogs to further the cause of
their mission, goal, goodwill, public relations, --definitely promotions, and yes selling. outlined and discussed further are the ethics in the blogosphere. the nature of blogging, and the creative use of it.


and from the author's words of encouragement to join the noise here: " go make it happen. have fun. life is short. it's also messy and wonderful. like blogging."

to all the bloggers and readers as well in the sphere, a lovely weekend to you!




 

Sunday, November 15, 2009

the best mother in all the world,

in her children's eyes. and all of us the five siblings admittedly, may not be able to accomplish the things she has
accomplished in her lifetime.


-she sent us all to college, in a university. emphasizing that, education is the only legacy she
will leave us. not money it wont last she keeps telling and besides 'i don't have it' ;D. its the truth. and we are all forever grateful, that
made us adore her all the more today.


-she will not allow us to be absent from our classes, save if we are sick. she will not accept lack of money, nor allowance as a reason for she provides to the point that i can actually see after she
has distributed the money for our daily fare and allowance, it will be like Php 50.00 left in her purse, enough to make it to her office, and i would ask--how will you be able to come home? and i will try to give back half of my allowance, i was given everyday Php 30.00
that time, that was in the half part of the 80s. i do not know how much my sisters and brother gets, but all of us were given their share, everyday.and she will refuse to accept, she will just say, 'it's ok God will make a way'.
amazingly, she comes home with our daily food, and well some more money for another day's allowance for everyone.


-she never believed in working while studying(tho' she sees it a virtue), she keeps telling us study if you have to study, and work if you have to work.
-she let us all enrolled in some extra curricular activities when school's out, every summer that is. art, music (piano lessons for all of us), typing, cosmetics, and brought us with her to visit and borrow books in the public library. we didn't have much in our growing years, but she believed in cultivating and developing each one's talent, and skills.


-she equipped us.


-she had a bachelor's degree in education, and a master in public administration. she was a scholar, and was cuddled by nuns in her school.


-she was faithful and loyal to her religion. she is a catholic till the end, but believed too on the seventh-day sabbath. she went to church with my younger sister on sabbaths, and she will run to church again on sunday, the following day.


-she never went to a movie house to see a movie. i asked her one time why, she said, it's a waste of money, it will be for your allowances and fares instead.
(do you see now why, she is the greatest mother in the world for me...)


-she just content herself with tv entertainments by watching: charlie's angels, little house on the prairie,sunday's big event, sunday suspense theater,hawaii five-0,the bionic man,woman ,combat, and the late news; which we all faithfully watch with her enjoying, uh, save for the late night news. i suddenly turn so sleepy. i was highschool then.


-she stayed put even though she had all the chance in the world to leave us, and make mint in the land of milk and honey that time. she was sent  
to foreign lands--london, germany, some states in the u.s,italy,china,hk, other asian neighbors, she was a scholar and a government employee, during the Marcos era. she traveled with a diplomat's passport or a blue passport she used to tell me, and the most i can have is,a 10 year multiple entry to u.s and it is about to expire... (sigh)


-she stayed put, even though her better half has turned bitter, annoying, and made things difficult for us, and we became somewhat a dysfunctional family. (but that was a thing of the past now. to forgive is gorgeous. i mean divine. and my dad rests in peace to0.)
-funny, instead of us, giving her money after we have finished our university days, she still gives, and help out whoever is in need.


-she dedicated her retirement money to fixing the family house and helping yet her children who are in forever need.


-and when she felt her days are soon coming to an end, she ironed out everything. her grave site,real state/property taxes,etc. she gave thorough and final directions, instructions. nagged me for my indifference with the instructions because i either believe she is an invincible mom, or i am in denial.
-she never sold the house she built for her family 
instead, she made an order in her final days, that the house will be for the shelter for all----who became singles again and with extra baggage or as in baggages (sigh...), those who never made it in the marital bliss.


-she taught us: never be the cause of your co-worker's expulsion from job. and try your best always to work well with your superior(s)


space would never be enough to describe her being a Proverbs 31 woman.


and i have kept this, and held on to this hope and belief, as i see her writhe in pain in her final hours, seeing the death dew lies cold on her brows---(the gripping unexplainable pain witnessing the final grasp for breath of a loved one, and you cannot do anything...)


"ma, we will see each other again in the resurrection morning."























Monday, November 2, 2009

some of the best things in life are---cheap










found at a local produce market quaipo just before the stall owner closes: bunch of always coveted squash flower for only php 15. about .15 u.s.


i was planning to make a simple clear soup out of it with garlic, either chicken flavoured seasoning
or salt and pepper, let boil quickly, then serve. but then my son insisted on stir frying it and he will do the work. here's what he concocted:


         1/2 clove of garlic chopped
          dash of chicken flavoured seasoning (the one that you see above-is the secret of all the wannabes
          cooks/chefs here...in the place where i'm planted)
          brewed soy sauce (--tastes like one, a spoof of the famed kikoman...i'm gracefully cheap php 16.)
          cooking oil (forget the sesame, canola, olive--eerrghh, just plain vegetable cooking oil, but if you insist...) 
         about 2tbsp


        saute finely chopped garlic in oil
        add in quickly the carefully rinsed squash flower, (we sliced the flowers into strips, we cant imagine 
        eating the flowers whole!) re: never include the stalks, they're hard as wooden sticks
        quick stir fry it like the chinese do :-)
        serve hot
        squeezing in kalamansi is optional, but---it'll give it a twist. promise.


the verdict: fibery, some hint of powdery yum, nourishing, good for one serving but can be stretched for two in times like these, and it is delicious!